American Airlines Gp Beats

American Airlines Gp (AAL) reported 3rd Quarter September 2016 earnings of $2.80 per share on revenue of $10.6 billion. The consensus earnings estimate was $1.68 per share on revenue of $10.4 billion. The Earnings Whisper number was $1.58 per share. Revenue fell 1.0% compared to the same quarter a year ago.

American Airlines Group Inc, through its subsidiaries, operates in the airline industry. The Company has hubs in Charlotte, Chicago, Dallas/Fort Worth, Los Angeles, Miami, New York City, Philadelphia, Phoenix and Washington, D.C.

American Airlines Group Reports Third Quarter Profit

American Airlines Group Inc. (AAL) today reported its third quarter 2016 results. The Companys third quarter highlights include:

• Third quarter 2016 pre-tax profit of $1.2 billion, or $1.5 billion excluding special charges, and net profit of $737 million, or $933 million excluding special charges

• Third quarter 2016 earnings per diluted share was $1.40 versus $2.49 for the same period last year. Third quarter 2016 adjustedearnings per diluted share was $2.80 versus $2.77 for the third quarter 2015

• As part of its profit sharing plan, the Company accrued $86 million in the third quarter. This brings the year-to-date accrual for profit sharing to $257 million

• Returned $669 million to stockholders through share repurchases and dividends in the third quarter

• Successfully completed the Companys largest IT cutover since the merger with no disruption to service

The Company reported a Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) net profit of $737 million, or $1.40 per diluted share in the third quarter 2016. This compares to a GAAP net profit of $1.7 billion in the third quarter 2015, or $2.49 per diluted share. As a result of the reversal of the valuation allowance on the Companys deferred tax assets as of December 31, 2015, the Companys 2016 results include a $452 million provision for income taxes at an effective rate of approximately 38 percent, of which $449 million is non-cash due to net operating loss utilization. There was no tax provision for federal income taxes recorded in 2015.

The impact of the year-over-year change in non-cash income tax expense is removed by comparing pre-tax income. The Company reported a third quarter 2016 GAAP pre-tax income of $1.2 billion, and pre-tax income excluding net special charges of $1.5 billion. This compares to a third quarter 2015 GAAP pre-tax income of $1.7 billion, and pre-tax income excluding net special charges of $1.9 billion.

Adjusted third quarter 2016 earnings per diluted share was $2.80, up from $2.77 per diluted share in the third quarter of 2015.

"These outstanding results are due to the efforts of our more than 100,000 team members, who are working tirelessly to improve our operations, product, and customer experience," said Doug Parker, Chairman and CEO. "Nowhere are these efforts more evident than through the seamless completion of our largest IT cutover yet, which combined our fleet and pilot groups onto one system, with no disruption to service. Were already seeing the benefits as this cutover enables us to schedule our pilots and aircraft as one airline and allows us to further optimize our network to better meet the needs of our passengers."

"With integration successes like this behind us, we are even more excited about the future. We are investing in our people and our product and are well along the path to restoring American as the greatest airline in the world."

Third Quarter 2016 Highlights

GAAP

Non-GAAP

3Q16

3Q15

3Q16

3Q15

Total operating revenues ($ mil)

$ 10,594

$ 10,706

$ 10,594

$ 10,706

Total operating expenses ($ mil)

9,163

8,707

8,869

8,542

Operating income

1,431

1,999

1,725

2,164

Pre-tax income ($ mil)

1,189

1,709

1,483

1,895

Pre-tax margin

11.2

%

16.0

%

14.0

%

17.7

%

Net income ($ mil)

737

1,693

933

1,885

Earnings per diluted share

$ 1.40

$ 2.49

$ 1.76

$ 2.77

Adjusted

earnings per diluted share

n/a

n/a

$ 2.80

$ 2.77

Revenue and Cost Comparisons

Total revenue in the third quarter was $10.6 billion, a decrease of 1.1 percent versus the third quarter 2015 on a 1.2 percent increase in total available seat miles (ASMs). Total revenue per ASM was 14.73 cents, down 2.2 percent versus the third quarter 2015. This decrease was due to competitive capacity growth, continued macroeconomic softness outside of the United States, and foreign currency weakness.

Total operating expenses in the third quarter were $9.2 billion, up 5.2 percent compared to the third quarter 2015, due primarily to a 15.3 percent increase in salaries and benefits expense, which includes the impact of the Companys recent labor agreements and an $86 million accrual for the Companys profit sharing program.

Third quarter mainline cost per available seat mile (CASM) was 11.96 cents, up 5.6 percent on a 0.5 percent increase in mainline ASMs versus the third quarter 2015. Excluding fuel and special charges, mainline CASM was 9.32 cents, up 8.9 percent versus the third quarter 2015. Regional CASM was 18.85 cents, down 5.2 percent versus the third quarter 2015 on a 6.9 percent increase in regional ASMs. Excluding fuel and special charges, regional CASM was 15.08 cents, down 4.5 percent versus the third quarter 2015.

Fleet

As part of the Companys ongoing fleet renewal program, the Company invested $1.0 billion in new aircraft during the third quarter, including 12 new mainline aircraft and 9 new regional aircraft, while removing 49 aircraft from the fleet. With an average mainline aircraft age of 10 years, the Company operates the youngest fleet of the four largest U.S. carriers.

Liquidity and Capital Return Program

As of September 30, 2016, the Company had approximately $9.2 billion in total available liquidity, consisting of unrestricted cash and short-term investments of $6.8 billion and $2.4 billion in undrawn revolver capacity. The Company also had restricted cash of $635 million.

The Company returned $669 million to its stockholders in the third quarter through the payment of $53 million in quarterly dividends and the repurchase of $616 million of common stock, or 18.2 million shares, at an average price of $33.87 per share. The Company has returned more than $9.0 billion to stockholders through share repurchases and dividends since mid-2014.

Share repurchases under the buyback programs may be made through a variety of methods, which may include open market purchases, privately negotiated transactions, block trades or accelerated share repurchase transactions. Any such repurchases will be made from time to time subject to market and economic conditions, applicable legal requirements and other relevant factors. The programs do not obligate the Company to repurchase any specific number of shares or continue a dividend for any fixed period, and may be suspended at any time at the Companys discretion.

The Company also declared a dividend of $0.10 per share to be paid on November 21, 2016, to stockholders of record as of November 7, 2016.

Notable Accomplishments

Integration Accomplishments

• On Oct. 1, the Company smoothly integrated all 15,000 American Airlines pilots and its mainline fleet into a single scheduling system, a crucial step in unlocking the full potential of the Companys network and airline. The successful completion of this company-wide project allows the Company to schedule pilots and aircraft seamlessly regardless of which pre-merger airline they came from. It will also allow pilots to receive the full benefits of their single seniority list and joint collective bargaining agreement

• Reached an agreement with the TWU-IAM Association for pay increases for mechanics, fleet service and other employees while negotiations continue for a full joint collective bargaining agreement. In September, the Company and the TWU-IAM Association reached a tentative agreement on a new joint collective bargaining agreement for flight simulator engineers

• Announced new agreements with partners Citi and Barclaycard US to extend their relationships, as well as a new, long-term exclusive agreement with MasterCard, to provide AAdvantage miles and other benefits to customers

• Took delivery of the Companys first Boeing 787-9 aircraft, the first of four 787-9s expected to be delivered this year. These aircraft are the first at a U.S. airline to offer Premium Economy seating, a new class of service on international flights with more legroom and wider seats. International service on these aircraft begins Nov. 3 to Sao Paulo and on Nov. 4 to Madrid

• Launched several financing transactions during the quarter, including the $814 million 2016-3 Enhanced Equipment Trust Certificates, which consists of both AA and A tranches, and re-priced the Companys 2014 Credit Facilities, which reduced the interest rate by 25 basis points

• Launched new nonstop service between Los Angeles International Airport and Hong Kong on Sept. 7

• The U.S. Department of Transportation tentatively awarded American a slot pair for service between Los Angeles International Airport and Tokyo Haneda, allowing American to shift its service to more favorable daytime hours

• Expanded complimentary in-flight entertainment offerings to include premium movies, TV shows, music and games in the Main Cabin on all domestic flights with seatback entertainment and wireless streaming entertainment, giving customers unrestricted access to the largest content library among the U.S. carriers from their seatback entertainment system or their own device

• Began the Companys first-ever regularly scheduled flights to Cuba on Sept. 7 with nonstop service from Miami to Cienfuegos and Holguin. Havana service begins in November

• Reopened the Companys London Heathrow Arrivals Lounge following a multi-million dollar refurbishment that radically changed the overall look and ambiance of the facility. The lounge now features 29 top-notch shower rooms, a business center and meeting room. The Company also re-opened its new Admirals Club lounge at Rio de Janeiro airport

• Announced that the Companys new campus would be named after former Chairman and CEO Robert Crandall

Community Relations Accomplishments

• Received the top score of 100 on the 2016 Disability Equality Index and was named a "2016 DEI Best Places to Work"

• Participated in the "Stand Up To Cancer" telecast, which was broadcast live on all major networks and more than 50 cable channels. Funds raised during the broadcast will further groundbreaking research to turn more patients into survivors

• Honored four employee recipients of the eighth annual Earl G. Graves Award for Leadership in Inclusion and Diversity

• Announced a multi-year financial commitment of $1 million to the Answer ALS research project to help end amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

• Brought 180 World War II, Korean and Vietnam War veterans from Asheville, N.C. to Washington D.C. to spend the day at the memorials to those wars. The flight marked both the 10 anniversary of Americans partnership with the Honor Flight Network and Americans 500 Honor Flight since the first one arrived in Washington in 2006

• Launched a partnership with TurboVote, a non-partisan, nonprofit organization that assists in voter registration, to help its U.S. employees register to vote

Special Items

In the third quarter, the Company recognized $294 million in net special charges before the effect of income taxes, principally consisting of merger integration expenses relating to re-branding of aircraft, airport facilities and uniforms, information technology, alignment of labor union contracts and fleet restructuring.

Conference Call / Webcast Details

The Company will conduct a live audio webcast of its earnings call today at 7:30 a.m. CDT, which will be available to the public on a listen-only basis at aa.com/investorrelations. An archive of the webcast will be available on the website through Nov. 20.

Investor Guidance

For financial forecasting detail, please refer to the Companys investor relations update, to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on Form 8-K immediately following its 7:30 a.m. CDT conference call. This filing will be available at aa.com/investorrelations.

About American Airlines Group

American Airlines and American Eagle offer an average of nearly 6,700 flights per day to nearly 350 destinations in more than 50 countries. American has hubs in Charlotte, Chicago, Dallas/Fort Worth, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Philadelphia, Phoenix, and Washington, D.C. American is a founding member of the oneworld alliance, whose members serve more than 1,000 destinations with about 14,250 daily flights to over 150 countries. Shares of American Airlines Group Inc. trade on Nasdaq under the ticker symbol AAL. In 2015, its stock joined the S&P 500 index. Connect with American on Twitter @AmericanAir and at Facebook.com/AmericanAirlines.

Adjusted earnings exclude non-cash income tax provision and special charges where noted. See the accompanying notes in the Financial Tables section of this press release for further explanation, including a reconciliation of all GAAP to non-GAAP financial information.

This document includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements may be identified by words such as "may," "will," "expect," "intend," "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "plan," "project," "could," "should," "would," "continue," "seek," "target," "guidance," "outlook," "if current trends continue," "optimistic," "forecast" and other similar words. Such statements include, but are not limited to, statements about future financial and operating results, the Companys plans, objectives, estimates, expectations and intentions, and other statements that are not historical facts such as, without limitation, statements that discuss the possible future effects of known trends or uncertainties, or which indicate that the future effects of known trends or uncertainties cannot be predicted, guaranteed or assured. These forward-looking statements are based on the Companys current objectives, beliefs and expectations, and they are subject to significant risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results and financial position and timing of certain events to differ materially from the information in the forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to the following: significant operating losses in the future; downturns in economic conditions that adversely affect the Companys business; the impact of continued periods of high volatility in fuel costs, increased fuel prices and significant disruptions in the supply of aircraft fuel; competitive practices in the industry, including the impact of low-cost carriers, airline alliances and industry consolidation; the challenges and costs of integrating operations and realizing anticipated synergies and other benefits of the merger transaction with US Airways Group, Inc.; costs of ongoing data security compliance requirements and the impact of any significant data security breach; the Companys substantial indebtedness and other obligations and the effect they could have on the Companys business and liquidity; an inability to obtain sufficient financing or other capital to operate successfully and in accordance with the Companys current business plan; increased costs of financing, a reduction in the availability of financing and fluctuations in interest rates; the effect the Companys high level of fixed obligations may have on its ability to fund general corporate requirements, obtain additional financing and respond to competitive developments and adverse economic and industry conditions; the Companys significant pension and other postretirement benefit funding obligations; the impact of any failure to comply with the covenants contained in financing arrangements; provisions in credit card processing and other commercial agreements that may materially reduce the Companys liquidity; the impact of union disputes, employee strikes and other labor-related disruptions; any inability to maintain labor costs at competitive levels; interruptions or disruptions in service at one or more of the Companys hub airports; any inability to obtain and maintain adequate facilities, infrastructure and slots to operate the Companys flight schedule and expand or change its route network; the Companys reliance on third-party regional operators or third-party service providers that have the ability to affect the Companys revenue and the publics perception about its services; any inability to effectively manage the costs, rights and functionality of third-party distribution channels on which the Company relies; extensive government regulation, which may result in increases in the Companys costs, disruptions to the Companys operations, limits on the Companys operating flexibility, reductions in the demand for air travel, and competitive disadvantages; the impact of the heavy taxation on the airline industry; changes to the Companys business model that may not successfully increase revenues and may cause operational difficulties or decreased demand; the loss of key personnel or inability to attract and retain additional qualified personnel; the impact of conflicts overseas, terrorist attacks and ongoing security concerns; the global scope of the Companys business and any associated economic and political instability or adverse effects of events, circumstances or government actions beyond its control, including the impact of foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations and limitations on the repatriation of cash held in foreign countries; the impact of environmental and noise regulation; the impact associated with climate change, including increased regulation to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases; the Companys reliance on technology and automated systems and the impact of any failure of these technologies or systems; challenges in integrating the Companys computer, communications and other technology systems; losses and adverse publicity stemming from any accident involving any of the Companys aircraft or the aircraft of its regional or codeshare operators; delays in scheduled aircraft deliveries, or other loss of anticipated fleet capacity, and failure of new aircraft to perform as expected; the Companys dependence on a limited number of suppliers for aircraft, aircraft engines and parts; the impact of changing economic and other conditions beyond the Companys control, including global events that affect travel behavior such as an outbreak of a contagious disease, and volatility and fluctuations in the Companys results of operations due to seasonality; the effect of a higher than normal number of pilot retirements, more stringent duty-time regulations, increased flight hour requirements for commercial airline pilots and other factors that have caused a shortage of pilots; the impact of possible future increases in insurance costs or reductions in available insurance coverage; the effect on the Companys financial position and liquidity of being party to or involved in litigation; an inability to use net operating losses carried forward from prior taxable years (NOL Carryforwards); any impairment in the amount of the Companys goodwill and an inability to realize the full value of the Companys intangible or long-lived assets and any material impairment charges that would be recorded as a result; price volatility of the Companys common stock; the effects of the Companys capital deployment program and the limitation, suspension or discontinuation of the Companys share repurchase programs or dividend payments thereunder; delay or prevention of stockholders ability to change the composition of the Companys board of directors and the effect this may have on takeover attempts that some of the Companys stockholders might consider beneficial; the effect of provisions of the Companys Restated Certificate of Incorporation and Amended and Restated Bylaws that limit ownership and voting of its equity interests, including its common stock; the effect of limitations in the Companys Restated Certificate of Incorporation on acquisitions and dispositions of its common stock designed to protect its NOL Carryforwards and certain other tax attributes, which may limit the liquidity of its common stock; and other economic, business, competitive, and/or regulatory factors affecting the Companys business, including those set forth in the Companys Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2016 (especially in Part I, Item 2, Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, and Part II, Item 1A, Risk Factors) and other risks and uncertainties listed from time to time in the Companys other filings with the SEC. There may be other factors of which the Company is not currently aware that may affect matters discussed in the forward-looking statements and may also cause actual results to differ materially from those discussed. Any forward-looking statements speak only as of the date hereof or as of the dates indicated in the statements. The Company does not assume any obligation to publicly update or supplement any forward-looking statement to reflect actual results, changes in assumptions or changes in other factors affecting these forward-looking statements other than as required by law.

American Airlines Group Inc. (the "Company") is providing the reconciliation of reported non-GAAP financial measures to their comparable financial measures on a GAAP basis. The Company believes that the non-GAAP financial measures provide investors the ability to measure financial performance excluding special items, which is more indicative of the Companys ongoing performance and is more comparable to measures reported by other major airlines. The Company believes that the presentation of mainline and regional CASM excluding fuel is useful to investors because both the cost and availability of fuel are subject to many economic and political factors beyond the Companys control. Management uses mainline and regional CASM excluding special items and fuel to evaluate the Companys operating performance.

3 Months Ended

Percent

9 Months Ended

Percent Change

September 30,

Change

September 30,

Reconciliation of Pre-Tax Income Excluding Special Items

2016

2015

2016

2015

(in millions, except per share amounts)

(in millions, except per share amounts)

Pre-tax income as reported

$

1,189

$ 1,709

$

3,799

$ 4,371

Pre-tax special items:

Special items, net (1)

289

163

450

610

Regional operating special items, net

5

2

13

20

Nonoperating special items, net (2)

-

21

36

2

Total pre-tax special items

294

186

499

632

Pre-tax income excluding special items

$

1,483

$ 1,895

-22 % $

4,298

$ 5,003

-14 %

Calculation of Pre-Tax Margin

Pre-tax income as reported

$

1,189

$ 1,709

$

3,799

$ 4,371

Total operating revenues as reported

$

10,594

$ 10,706

$

30,391

$ 31,360

Pre-tax margin

11.2

%

16.0

%

12.5

%

13.9

%

Calculation of Pre-Tax Margin Excluding Special Items

Pre-tax income excluding special items

$

1,483

$ 1,895

$

4,298

$ 5,003

Total operating revenues as reported

$

10,594

$ 10,706

$

30,391

$ 31,360

Pre-tax margin excluding special items

14.0

%

17.7

%

14.1

%

16.0

%

Reconciliation of Net Income Excluding Special Items

Net income as reported

$

737

$ 1,693

$

2,387

$ 4,329

Special items:

Total pre-tax special items

294

186

499

632

Income tax special items

-

6

-

22

Net tax effect of special items (3)

(98

)

-

(188

)

-

Net income excluding special items

$

933

$ 1,885

-51 % $

2,698

$ 4,983

-46 %

Reconciliation of Net Income Excluding Special Items and Non-Cash

Income Tax Provision (4)

Net income as reported

$

737

$ 1,693

$

2,387

$ 4,329

Total pre-tax special items

294

186

499

632

Total non-cash income tax provision

449

6

1,403

22

Net income excluding special items and non-cash income tax provision

$

1,480

$ 1,885

-21 % $

4,289

$ 4,983

-14 %

Reconciliation of Basic and Diluted Earnings Per Share Excluding

Special Items

Net income excluding special items

$

933

$ 1,885

$

2,698

$ 4,983

Shares used for computation (in thousands):

Basic

525,415

661,869

564,886

682,337

Diluted

528,510

680,739

568,679

701,760

Earnings per share excluding special items:

Basic

$

1.77

$ 2.85

$

4.78

$ 7.30

Diluted

$

1.76

$ 2.77

$

4.74

$ 7.10

Reconciliation of Basic and Diluted Earnings Per Share Excluding

Special Items and Non-Cash Income Tax Provision (4)

Net income excluding special items and non-cash income tax provision

$

1,480

$ 1,885

$

4,289

$ 4,983

Shares used for computation (in thousands):

Basic

525,415

661,869

564,886

682,337

Diluted

528,510

680,739

568,679

701,760

Adjusted earnings per share (excludes special items and non-cash income tax provision):